Although the 67-year-old Schenectady USBC Hall of Famer is in high demand as a fill-in for many of the area’s top major leagues, all he really wants to do is have fun with his favorite hobby after enduring numerous health concerns in the last five years.

Ruth was one of the best bowlers in the region for many decades. Author of 28 perfect games and 15 800 triples, the 1970 Mont Pleasant High School graduate appeared in eight PBA Tour events and once cashed for $540 at the old PBA Fair Lanes Open. Ruth once rolled one of the highest triples in Schenectady Bowling Association history (868) and also owned the SBA’s record for four-game series (1,147) at Sportsman’s Bowl before being overtaken by Jay Diamond’s 1,177 four weeks later.

The longtime secretary of the now-defunct Schenectady League, Ruth started bowling when he was 5 years old and quickly established himself as a force on the lanes.

But he had to give up the sport several times.

“The first time I gave up the game was when the Schenectady League folded,” said Ruth, who worked as an announcer/analyst on the OTB Network for 24 years. “It was hard to keep that league together, and when we finally had to end it, I told a lot of my friends that I was giving up bowling. A lot of them didn’t believe me.”

Ruth, a graduate of the New School of Contemporary Radio, eventually came back, but then he had to give up the sport once again because of nagging physical problems that made it almost impossible to roll a bowling ball.

“I had four surgeries in all,” Ruth said. “I had double back surgery in January of 2017, and then I had vascular surgery on my legs. My back surgery was more like the kind of back fusion that Tiger Woods had, but not to the extent that Tiger did. Last April, the doctors finally cleared me to work out, bowl and golf. He told me I couldn’t run or jog.”

On the advice of friends Lee Quivey and Mike McLear, Ruth joined the Scotia Junior Merchants league, so he could get back into bowling in a recreational format.

“I was just looking to bowl in a mixed league,” Ruth said. “I’m bowling with a husband and wife who haven’t bowled in 25 years. I just want to have fun, and I’m not really interested in bowling competitively.”

But word quickly got out that Ruth was available as a sub, and he reluctantly accepted.

Along with his 208 average in the Scotia Junior Merchants, he is subbing in the Galaxy League at Boulevard Bowl on Friday nights where he carries a 213 average, and in the Sportsman’s Majors league on Monday nights where he averages in the 220s.

He also had subbed a couple of nights in the Vitalo Classic on Saturday nights at Sportsman’s, and filled in Wednesday night in the Reis Group Kim Brown Memorial Mixed Doubles league, a group he would love to join if there is an opening next season. He’s already recorded numerous 700 triples in most of those leagues.

“It’s funny how it turned out,” Ruth said. “I wasn’t planning on subbing, but the word got out. Keith Lawyer helped me with some equipment, and then Bob Tedesco drilled me up some new stuff. I was using old urethane stuff, and I’m still using some of that now, like the red hammer for my spare ball.

“I grew up in an era when me and the other older guys learned how to play by hitting one or two boards on the lane,” Ruth continued.

“The late Dick Peckham was a perfect example of the way most of us learned how to bowl," Ruth continued. "As long as my body holds up, I can play shots that a lot other people can’t. Sure, I can’t play the fourth arrow shot — that’s not going to happen — but I can play most of the other lines."

"If I can bowl, I’ll bowl as long as my body holds up," Ruth said. "Like a lot of us at my age, I take some Tylenol before I bowl and after I bowl.”

It’s great to see Ruth back on the lanes, and it looks like he’s really enjoying himself, whether it is in a social mixed league or in the several scratch leagues where he’s just filling in for the time being.

Don’t be surprised if he decides to stay in one or two of those scratch leagues if his health holds up.

STRIKES & SPARES

The date of the Capital District Women’s 600 Tournament has been changed to Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. at Boulevard Bowl after last weekend’s storm wiped out the original date. Entry forms are available at Boulevard Bowl, Towne Bowling Academy and Sportsman’s Bowl. For information, contact Marianne Hogle at 518-393-8907.

Mike Santulli rolled his first 700 triple with a 278-722 in the KAPL Mixed league.

The Women’s 500 Club Snowball Scotch Doubles Tournament will be held Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. at Sportsman’s Bowl. Entry forms are available at all three Schenectady USBC bowling centers. They must be returned to Marie Moorhead before Feb. 17.

The Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour returns Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Alpha Lanes in Troy.

Boulevard Bowl’s second annual Baker Team Tournament will be held Feb. 17 at noon. Entry fee is $30 per person for the five-person event. Handicap is based on the total of the five averages divided by five and is 80 percent of 240. There will be 12 games of qualifying, followed by a best two-of-three stepladder finals. Call Boulevard Bowl at 518-374-4171 to reserve your spot.

In a battle of unbeaten Suburban Council powers that came down to the final two bowlers in the final frame, Columbia edged Niskayuna 18-14 Tuesday at East Greenbush Bowling Center. Columbia (11-0) won by only 20 pins (3,739-3719) and was paced by Kyle Fortin’s 268-697 and Zach Bogholtz’s 246-691. Niskayuna (10-1) was led by Dan Palmer’s 237-653 and David Mennillo’s 234-651. The teams will square off again during the Class A Sectional Tournament Feb. 11 at Boulevard Bowl.

The Schenectady USBC Youth Team Tournament was postponed on Sunday and is rescheduled for Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Sportsman’s Bowl.

The Schenectady USBC Open Tournament, featuring a three-person team handicap event (men, women, mixed), is open to all USBC members. The tournament will be held Feb. 2-10 at Towne Bowling Academy. Handicap is based on 90 percent of 240. Top prize is $1,200, based on 80 entries. Squads will be Feb. 2 (2:30 p.m.), Feb. 3 (9:30 a.m. and 12 noon), Feb. 8 (9:30 p.m.), Feb. 9 (2:30 p.m.) and Feb. 10 (9:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.). Entry fee is $25 per person with optional divisions for team scratch, singles handicap and singles scratch at $10 per person per event. Call Towne Bowling Academy at 518-355-3939 for information.

Towne Bowling Academy’s ninth annual Handicap Team Tournament continues Sunday at 10:30 a.m. First place is $4,000, and there is also a singles division with a top prize of $450. Handicaps are 90 percent of 225, with a maximum of 50 pins per person per game. Entry fee is $160 per team. The tournament continues through Jan. 27. There is an optional singles event for an extra $15. Call Towne Bowling Academy at 518-355-3939 for information.

The Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center Scratch Doubles event is set for Feb. 10, with squads at 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Entry fee is $160 per team and $140 for re-entry. Qualifying will be four-game blocks. First place will be $2,500, based on 60 teams. Call 518-793-9606 for information.

Uncle Sam Lanes’ Superbowl Bakers Doubles Tournament is set for Feb. 3 at noon. Entry fee is $40 per bowler pre-pay or $50 the day of the event. First place is $900 guaranteed. One in six teams will cash from the 8-game sweeper. Call Tom Walsh at 518-378-4695 for information.

MAJOR BOWLING

John Askew notched a 300 game and an 835 triple on the way to a 1,085 four-game series, Matt Swiatocha and Zack Porter also registered perfect games and Kris Impellizzeri topped the women with a 961 in the Reis Group Kim Brown Memorial Mixed Doubles league Wednesday night at Towne Bowling Academy.

Ryan Karabin recorded a perfect game en route to an 816 triple, Scott Chastenay also tossed a 300 game on the way to an 802 triple, and Jeff Whitehouse and Eric Stangle also registered perfect games in the Reis Group Kim Brown Memorial City League Monday night at Towne Bowling Academy.